NY SCION Resources

The goal of this initiative is to place at least one Disability Resource Coordinators (DRCs) in all 33 Local Workforce Development Areas (LWDAs) across New York State. This page contains a collection of resources for DRCs.  When reviewed and discussed collaboratively with partners and stakeholder groups, these resources and the knowledge contained within them will assist DRCs in their efforts to promote systems change in their area and improve the collective employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities across NYS.

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This site provides additional information that is consistent with the intended purpose of NY SCION. Please note that the Department cannot attest to the accuracy of the information provided by these resources and you will be subject to the destination site’s privacy policy when you leave the NYSDOL website. Linking to a non-Department site does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the site’s sponsors or the information on the site.

The NY SCION (New York Systems Change and Inclusive Opportunities Network) Year 2 Cumulative report covers the second year of operation of the NY SCION project, from January to December 2023, highlighting the NY SCION program’s efforts to enhance support to businesses and increase employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities across New York State.

27 Local Workforce Development Boards (LWDBs) were actively participating in the initiative, serving 48 counties.  New York City was onboarded in May of 2024. The primary goals include improving access to career services, fostering partnerships, and increasing positive employment outcomes for businesses and job seekers with disabilities  through coordinated efforts. NY SCION also aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of these efforts by supporting evaluation and planning strategies.

Key strategies used across the regions include extensive outreach activities to engage businesses and  job seekers, provision of direct services to assist individuals with disabilities, and the facilitation of Integrated Resource Teams (IRTs) to provide coordinated employment support.

The program has supported career pathways initiatives, provided specialized training to businesses and job seekers with disabilities , and resources like Ticket to Work (TTW) to assist individuals in finding meaningful employment.   NY SCION has successfully adapted these strategies to meet the distinct needs of each region, leading to significant progress in advancing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

The report highlights the formation of strong partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and educational institutions to enhance service delivery. Several regions held outreach events and job fairs to connect job seekers with employers, providing opportunities for employment readiness training and skills development. Career services such as benefits counseling and work incentives advisement were also key components, helping individuals make informed decisions about employment while receiving various support services.

Overall, the NY SCION initiative has achieved notable progress by increasing access to career services, creating valuable partnerships, and helping individuals with disabilities secure employment. Through comprehensive outreach, training programs, and collaborative efforts, the initiative continues to expand its reach and positively impact workforce development. The program's focus on inclusive employment opportunities has made a significant contribution to advancing workforce participation for individuals with disabilities across New York State.

The Integrated Resource Team (IRT) Fact Sheet provides an overview of the Integrated Resource Team (IRT) model.   IRTs are collaborative groups formed by two or more service systems to help individuals facing barriers to employment. The purpose of IRTs is to provide coordinated, holistic support plans that integrate various services such as job training, education, mental health services, and more. The aim is to streamline these services to address the specific needs of individuals—like veterans, people with disabilities, or those with justice involved —ensuring they receive the necessary tools and resources to secure sustainable employment.

Key highlights of the fact sheet include the steps for implementing IRTs, such as forming the team, assessing needs, developing and delivering a coordinated support plan, and ongoing evaluation. It also emphasizes the importance of clear communication, person-centered approaches, flexibility, and resource sharing to maximize effectiveness. Additionally, the document points to various resources, like YourDreamYourTeam.com and WorkforceGPS, that provide further guidance and tools for developing and managing IRTs, along with best practices and success stories. 

The Integrated Resource Team (IRT) Intervention: Watch this introductory video to learn about Integrated Resource Teams.  The IRT was initially identified as a promising practice under the U.S. Department of Labor's Disability Program Navigator initiative (DPN) and ultimately formalized under the Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) as a required strategic approach. Review the Integrated Resource Team (IRT) Information and Resources to learn about a customer centered approach used within American Job Centers (AJCs) that involves diversified service systems coordinating services and leveraging funding to meet the needs of an individual job seeker with a disability. 

NYS Your Dream, Your Team Website: Your Dream, Your Team is a product resulting from the New York State Disability Employment Initiative (DEI).  The website offers a variety of resources to support forming quality Integrated Resource Teams. Your Dream, Your Team is designed to be used as a career exploration tool and to promote the use of Integrated Resource Teams.

WorkforceGPS: WorkforceGPS is an interactive website which offers webinars and other training resources, promising workforce development practices, and relevant evidence-based research. Workforce GPS is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA).

WorkforceGPS Innovation and Opportunity Network (ION): WorkforceGPS ION is a national, regional, state and local alliance that provides technical assistance, information sharing, and training to successfully implement the vision of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

WorkforceGPS Front Line Resources for DRCs: Developed under multiple rounds of Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) projects and hosted on their Disability and Employment Page, the WorkforceGPS Front Line Resources for DRCs page provides technical assistance resources that will bootstrap the work of a Disability Resource Coordinator (DRC).  Resources include a DRC orientation series and several links to WorkforceGPS technical assistance tools to support inclusive career pathways and apprenticeship.

Disability and Employment eLearning Modules: The Disability and Employment eLearning Task Force in collaboration with the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) released three eLearning Training Modules to help support the professional development needs of the workforce development staff across the country. The theme of the three modules is “A Day in the Life of an American Job Center” and the module topics include “Serving Individuals with Disabilities,” “Working Across Partners,” and “Providing Inclusive Career Services.” There is also a managers toolkit included as well.

DEI Best Practices Series: This WorkforceGPS resource page contains mini-brief summaries of disability and employment best practices implemented under eight rounds of DEI funding. Overall, it has been found that the implementation of DEI strategies has resulted in an increase in the enrollment of individuals with disabilities at American Job Centers.

American Job Center – Disability Job Driven Resources: This WorkforceGPS resource page contains archived webcasts and resources on topics such as creating a welcoming environment for people with disabilities, online tools to support the strategic vision of WIOA, using data effectively for planning, identifying innovative income streams to support American Job Centers (AJCs) and other topics.

Promising Practices in Achieving Universal Access and Equal Opportunity – A Section 188 Disability Reference Guide: Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) contains the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity provisions of WIOA and addresses requirements including physical and programmatic accessibility and provision of reasonable accommodations. The Section 188 Disability Reference Guide is a promising practice guide that directly aligns with the requirements of Section 188 and provides best practices to move beyond compliance and into full inclusion for people with disabilities in workforce programs.

Minnesota Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) Project: Minnesota was awarded a DEI Grant in 2016.  Resources developed as a result of the project included the Minnesota Disability Resource Coordinator Level I Training. Much of the training that has been, and will be, developed under New York Systems Change and Inclusive Opportunities Network (NY SCION) is built on the foundation of the work done by the Minnesota DEI project, funded by the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP).

Employment Network Tools and Resources: An Employment Network (EN) is an entity that enters into an agreement with the Social Security Administration (SSA) to either provide or coordinate the delivery of services to Social Security disability beneficiaries.  This WorkforceGPS resource page The following technical assistance resources can support workforce entities in learning more about  the EN process.

Visit our Career Services page for more information on how our Career Center system serves individuals with disabilities.

If you have any questions about NY SCION or other services to Individuals with Disabilities, please send an email to the NYS Department of Labor’s Special Populations Team: [email protected].